Cigarette and cigar lighter

ABSTRACT

A lighting device for cigarettes and cigars having an upright elongate body, a lid openable approximately ninety angular degrees from the body, a nozzle for producing a flame and directing the flame from the body at an angled direction between the body and the lid. The proximity of the flame base to the lid protects the flame from being inadvertently extinguished, while the distance of the flame tip from the lid allows the lighting of large diameter cigars and avoids overheating of the lid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to cigarette and cigar lightingapparatuses.

BACKGROUND

Cigarette lighters, as their name implies, are primarily designed tolight cigarettes and are not optimally configured for lighting cigars,whose diameters vary and are much larger than that of a cigarette, andwhich generally take longer to light than a cigarette.

Cigars consist of a barrel, a head, and a foot. The barrel is the longtubular body portion. The foot is the end which is lit by the lighterand burned during smoking. The head is the tip of the cigar which theconsumer places in his mouth during smoking. Barrel diameters of cigarscan range from approximately ⅜-inch to approximately ⅞-inch.

Cigarette lighters produce a lighting flame that has a flame base at itsbottom and exiting the lighters flame nozzle, and a flame tip at its topwhich is disposed against the foot of the cigar or cigarette duringlighting.

Cigars oftentimes being so expensive, cigar smokers are typically veryserious about the implements and accessories they use for smoking, andtypically want a high-quality lighter for lighting their cigarsproperly, and to impress other cigar smokers. Such high quality lighterstypically include a lid to hide and protect the inner workings of thelighter during non-use, and that is swung open to expose the flamenozzle during use. Cigars typically take longer to light thancigarettes, so lidded lighters are preferred also because the lidsshelter the flame from wind during lighting so that it flame is notblown out before the cigar is fully lit.

Oft times, the larger and varying barrel and foot diameters of cigarsmake proper lighting with a lidded lighter difficult. It is oftenimpossible to properly position the foot over the flame tip due tointerference with the lid. The distance between the nozzle and the lidis insufficient to allow the foot to be centrally positioned over theflame tip and rotated to symmetrically ignite the entire foot.

Repositioning the flame base further from the lid during design of thelighter would introduce an undesirable side effect, in that the flamewould be more easily inadvertently blown out during use if the flamebase is not close enough to the lid for effective sheltering.

Another disadvantage to existing lidded lighters, whether for use withcigarettes or cigars, is that the proximity of the flame base to the lidthat is needed for proper sheltering results in a flame tip so close tothe lid that the lid is often inadvertently overheated by the flame,which is especially common during longer lighting times of cigars. Thisresults in a hot lid that might burn the user or delay his ability toclose the lid or put the lighter back into his pocket or such untilafter the lid has cooled down.

There exists a need for improvement in lidded lighters to better enablethe lighting of cigars, and such is an object of the present invention.There exists the need for improvement in lidded lighters to move theflame tip away from the lid to allow proper positioning of the cigarfoot over the flame tip without moving the flame base away from the lidand inadvertently diminishing sheltering of the flame by the lid, andsuch is an object of the present invention. There exists the need forimprovement in lidded lighters to reduce the overheating of the lid,especially during the longer lighting times of cigars, without movingthe flame base away from the lid and inadvertently diminishingsheltering of the flame by the lid, and such is an object of the presentinvention. Further needs and objects exist which are addressed by thepresent invention, as may become apparent by the included disclosure ofan exemplary embodiment thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be embodied as a lighting device for cigarettes andcigars having an upright elongate body, a lid openable approximatelyninety angular degrees from the body, a nozzle atop the body forproducing a flame and directing the flame from the body at an angleddirection between the body and the lid. The proximity of the flame baseto the lid protects the flame from being inadvertently extinguished,while the distance of the flame tip from the lid allows the lighting oflarge diameter cigars and avoids overheating of the lid.

Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with morespecificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings of an exemplaryembodiment provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference tothe following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighter according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lighter of FIG. 1 with its lid openand a flame ignited;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the lighter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the lighter of FIG. 1 with its lid openand a flame ignited; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the lighter of FIG. 1 lighting a cigar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 5, where there is shown acigarette and cigar lighter 100 according to just one of the infinitenumber of possible embodiments of the present invention.

Lighter 100 includes an upright elongate housing 102 having a lid 104pivotally attached thereto at hinge 106. The lighter is shown in itsstorage position in FIGS. 1 and 3, where the lid is closed, at zeroangular degrees with respect to the housing's upper surface 108, tocover and protect the inner components of the lighter.

When opened to its upright position for use, at ninety angular degreesfrom the housing's upper surface, the housing's flame-producing nozzle112 is exposed. The lighter is shown in its use position in FIGS. 1 and3, where the lid is opened.

Pressing against the actuation button 114 on the front side of thehousing causes release and ignition of fuel within the housing and theejection of flame 116 from the nozzle. Any typical fuel release andignition means may be employed within the lighter to cause the flamefrom the nozzle, and the invention is not meant to be limited thereby.

As seen best in FIG. 4, the nozzle 112 is angularly positioned andthereby adapted to eject the flame, as seen best in FIGS. 2 and 5, at adiagonal angle relative to the housing and lid, that bisects the ninetyangular degree opening angle of the lid from the housing. Preferably,the flame 116 is directed at an angle of approximately forty-fiveangular degrees above the top surface 108, and forty-five angulardegrees below the lid 104.

As seen in FIG. 5, the foot of a cigar 200 is easily disposed againstthe flames tip 120, while the flames base 122 is sufficiently shelteredby the lid to avoid being inadvertently extinguished. And thedisposition and direction of the flame tip avoids any inadvertentheating of the lid.

In summary, the invention may be embodied as a lighting device forcigarettes and cigars having a housing encasing fuel, an igniter forcausing the fuel into a flame, and a nozzle for directing the flame, alid attached to the housing and pivotable relative thereto between aclosed position at a first angle relative to the housing and coveringthe nozzle, and an open position at a second angle relative to thehousing and exposing the nozzle, wherein the nozzle directs the flame ata third angle between the first and second angles.

The first and second angles may be separated by approximately ninetyangular degrees. The third angle may be between twenty and seventyangular degrees from the first angle. The third angle may morespecifically be between thirty and sixty angular degrees from the firstangle. The third angle may more specifically be approximately forty-fiveangular degrees from the first angle.

The housing may be an elongate rectilinear housing having an upper end,and the nozzle may be disposed at and direct the flame from the upperend. The lid may be pivotally affixed to the housing at a hinge disposedat the upper end. The lid may be disposed substantially parallel to theupper end during the closed position and substantially perpendicular tothe upper end during the open position. The lid may be disposedsubstantially upright during the open position, when the elongaterectilinear housing is disposed substantially upright.

The invention may also be embodied as a lighting device for cigarettesand cigars having an upright elongate body, and a flame exiting the bodyat a direction between zero and ninety angular degrees from upright. Thebody may have an upper end and the flame may exit the body from theupper end. The lighting device may have a lid hingedly attached to thebody at the upper end. The lid may be pivotable relative to the bodybetween a closed position covering the upper end and denying exit of theflame therefrom and an open position exposing the upper end and allowingexit of the flame therefrom.

The lid may be substantially disposed in a direction approximatelyninety angular degrees from upright during the closed position, and maybe substantially disposed in a direction approximately zero angulardegrees from upright during the open position. The flame may exit thebody in a direction substantially bisecting the upper end and lid whenthe lid is in the open position.

The invention may also be embodied as a lighter having a body producinga flame, the flame having a flame base adjacent the body and a flame tipat the distal end of the flame, and a sheltering lid attached to thebody, wherein the flame base is substantially nearer to the lid than theflame tip is to the lid. The flame base may more specifically be lessthan seven-eighths of an inch from the lid, and the flame tip may morespecifically be more than seven-eighths of an inch from the lid. Theflame base may more specifically be approximately three-quarters of aninch from the lid, and the flame tip may more specifically beapproximately one inch from the lid.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to aspecific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and detail may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that theinvention should therefore only be limited according to the followingclaims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they areentitled.

1. A lighting device for cigarettes and cigars comprising: a housingencasing fuel, an igniter for causing said fuel into a flame, and anozzle for directing said flame; a lid attached to said housing andpivotable relative thereto between a closed position at a first anglerelative to said housing and covering said nozzle, and an open positionat a second angle relative to said housing and exposing said nozzle;wherein said nozzle directs said flame at a third angle between saidfirst and second angles.
 2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein saidfirst and second angles are separated by approximately ninety angulardegrees.
 3. The lighting device of claim 2 wherein said third angle isbetween twenty and seventy angular degrees from said first angle.
 4. Thelighting device of claim 3 wherein said third angle is between thirtyand sixty angular degrees from said first angle.
 5. The lighting deviceof claim 4 wherein said third angle is approximately forty-five angulardegrees from said first angle.
 6. The lighting device of claim 5 whereinsaid housing comprises an elongate rectilinear housing having an upperend, and said nozzle is disposed at and directs said flame from saidupper end.
 7. The lighting device of claim 6 wherein said lid ispivotally affixed to said housing at a hinge disposed at said upper end.8. The lighting device of claim 7 wherein said lid is disposedsubstantially parallel to said upper end during said closed position andsubstantially perpendicular to said upper end during said open position.9. The lighting device of claim 8 wherein said lid is disposedsubstantially upright during said open position, when said elongaterectilinear housing is disposed substantially upright.
 10. A lightingdevice for cigarettes and cigars comprising: an upright elongate body;and a flame exiting said body at a direction between zero and ninetyangular degrees from upright.
 11. The lighting device of claim 10wherein said body has an upper end and said flame exits said body fromsaid upper end.
 12. The lighting device of claim 11 further comprising alid hingedly attached to said body at said upper end.
 13. The lightingdevice of claim 12 wherein said lid is pivotable relative to said bodybetween a closed position covering said upper end and denying exit ofsaid flame therefrom and an open position exposing said upper end andallowing exit of said flame therefrom.
 14. The lighting device of claim13 wherein said lid is substantially disposed in a directionapproximately ninety angular degrees from upright during said closedposition, and is substantially disposed in a direction approximatelyzero angular degrees from upright during said open position.
 15. Thelighting device of claim 14 wherein said flame exits said body in adirection substantially bisecting said upper end and lid when said lidis in said open position.
 16. A lighter comprising: a body producing aflame, said flame comprising a flame base adjacent said body and a flametip at the distal end of said flame; and a sheltering lid attached tosaid body; wherein said flame base is substantially nearer to said lidthan said flame tip is to said lid.
 17. The lighter of claim 16 whereinsaid flame base is less than seven-eighths of an inch from said lid, andsaid flame tip is more than seven-eighths of an inch from said lid. 18.The lighter of claim 17 wherein said flame base is approximatelythree-quarters of an inch from said lid, and said flame tip isapproximately one inch from said lid.